Comfort, O comfort my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
   and cry to her
that she has served her term,
   that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
   double for all her sins.

Isaiah 40:1, 2

Module One: Trembling with Hope

Study:

In preparation for this week's liturgy, please read “Mein Kampf” in There are Places in the World Where Rules are Less Important Than Kindness by Carlo Rovelli. Please read the Wisdom for the Way essay titled, “Trembling with Hope” found here.

After you have completed the above, choose one or more of the the following:

• “How to Talk to People you Disagree With,” on The Bible for Normal People podcast

• “On Nurturing Capacious Hearts,” on the OnBeing podcast

• “Richard Schwartz: Internal Family Systems (IFS) Process with Sam” on the Voices of Esalen podcast

• “The Guest House” Rumi

The Liturgy

Trembling with Hope

Comfort, O comfort my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
   and cry to her
that she has served her term,
   that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
   double for all her sins.

Isaiah 40:1, 2

Opening Prayer

Hope for all creation, we implore you to come. We are your people, your stones, your whirling galaxies, show us the graciousness of your love.
Amen.

Confession

Merciful God, we confess that we have not found space in our lives to listen. We have allowed the volume of distractions to creep up until we are deaf to the sigh of the spirit. Forgive us and calm our racing lives. Lead us to rest.

Amen.

Passing of the Peace

Exchange this acknowledgment of confession.

From the freedom of confession, I greet the Christ in you.
From the freedom of confession, I greet the Christ in you.

The Inquiry

These questions will be used each week to guide a time of sharing. If you are unable to share, please raise two clasped hands and the other participants will offer you a blessing.

What are you thankful for?

What brings you hope?

After each person shares, the group will offer a blessing to each person:

[Person’s name], in the name of Jesus Christ know you are beloved of God 

The Reflection

Read aloud:

The Practice

Each week, participants will be offered a spiritual practice in the Spirited Words Substack Newsletter.

For Thought

“Listen carefully, my child, to my instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart.

This is advice from one who loves you; welcome it and faithfully put it into practice.”

(Chittister, The Rule of Benedict, p. 3)

Read Aloud:

“Hope” is the thing with feathers

By Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.

The Response

These questions can be used to help the group engage with the reflection.

• Where does fear live in me—fear of being unseen, unheard, or overcome?

• When I face those with whom I struggle, which voices within me rise up first?

• How might the Spirit teach me to welcome these inner voices gently, so that I may meet others not with armor, but with a heart made wide and generous?

After each person shares, the group will offer a blessing to each person:

Christ, give us the courage to hear and be heard.

Responsive Reading

A. A part of me wants to hide.

B. Welcome. Come and rest.

A. A part of me wants to fight.

B. Welcome. Come and rest.

A. A part of me is so very afraid of dropping all of my precious burdens.

B: Welcome. Come and rest.

Closing Prayer

The nights are long and we are waiting, so we light a candle and whisper a prayer. Hope, we ask that you teach us to hear all the voices of wisdom in our midst.

Amen.

Blessing

In our gathering and in our going, be with us.